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Month: January 2020

Germany awards press prize to Prince

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/01/2020

Prince Albert II has been awarded the German ‘Press Freedom Prize’ in recognition of his commitment to the protection of the environment.
Prince Albert travelled to the Ludwig Erhard Summit in Tegernsee on 17th January where he received the Freiheitsprise der Medien – Press Freedom Prize. Organised by the Weimer Media Group (WMG), the event honours public figures who are committed to freedom of expression, and rewarded Monaco’s Sovereign Prince for his decisive role in favour of Nature.
“Prince Albert II has engaged in the preservation of nature more than any head of state in recent years,” Thomas F. Hofmann, President of the Technical University of Munich, said in his speech.
The prize acknowledges the Prince’s action, notably through his foundation, in working “not only against pollution of the Ocean, against global warming caused by industrial emissions, or even against melting ice in the polar regions, but which also continually draws our attention to the protection of biodiversity, the promotion of renewable energies and access to water,” said Thomas F. Hofmann. “The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which he created in 2006, is considered worldwide as a flagship initiative for the preservation of the environment. These numerous initiatives and successes have made you today a respected international figure in the fight for environmental protection.”
In accepting the award, Prince Albert spoke of the close link which unites the protection of our Planet and freedom of the press, saying: “at the heart of the environmental fight there is indeed a requirement of truth, a truth which is first of all scientific and which must reach us, even if it disturbs in the need for change, which it highlights. This is why freedom of information, in the field of the environment, is a requirement, but it can also be a struggle, a fight based on this freedom of the media but which must also mobilise each one of us.”
 
Photo credits © WMG
 
 

Airport raises the bar in greenhouse goals

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2020

The Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur Group has revealed that it is two decades ahead of schedule in its ambitious plan to become 100% carbon-neutral, setting a precedent for the rest of the world.
For the past 15 years, the Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur Group has been implementing policies to lessen its carbon footprint, to the point where they can now hope to emit zero grams of greenhouse gases in just 10 years’ time.
The measures will affect the three airports under the jurisdiction of the group – Nice Côte d’Azur, Cannes Mandelieu, and Golfe de Saint-Tropez.
In June 2019, the group was one of 193 European airports to set a goal of completely eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But the Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur Group has moved the deadline forward with a determined new plan.
“I admire companies that spontaneously set themselves ambitious targets,” said Bertrand Piccard, President of the Solar Impulse Foundation, a world alliance that brings together the main actors involved in developing, financing or promoting solutions that protect the environment in a profitable way. “Faced with the slow pace of international negotiations, this is the best way to make progress towards environmental protection. By aiming to achieve zero net emissions by 2030 at the latest, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has become a pioneer and set an example for the world of aviation. Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur intends to reach its goal as quickly as possible by calling on solutions labelled by the Solar Impulse Foundation, such as the contract signed recently with Antismog.”
Each of the three airports will move forward independently, as each has a different level and type of usage. Golfe de Saint-Tropez, which has been carbon neutral since 2018, will install a carbon well this year to absorb 23 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of the residual emissions being outputted. The new platform will also absorb excess CO2 equivalent to 2.5 tonnes in 2022 and 21 tonnes by 2034.
Cannes Mandelieu will use the same format but will be a bit slower in implementation. The airport will reduce in five stages until 2030, when zero emissions will be fully realised. By 2034, it will absorb an additional 14 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Nice Côte d’Azur encounters a bigger challenge in its quest. As the second busiest airport in France, with an increasing number of passengers coming through every year, the airport must balance the larger passenger load with environmental protection.
In the past 10 years, Nice Airport has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, becoming the first airport in France to be labelled carbon-neutral in 2016. The airport continues to strive for 100%, but this won’t come without continued sustained efforts.
“Today, passengers passing through our terminals account for hardly 100 grams of CO2, which is 92% less than the average of European airports. This figure represents a record and an incentive to do even better. But these last few grams are the most difficult to eliminate, because they bring us face to face with technical or technological barriers that must be raised, if we are to achieve our goal of zero grams of emissions in just 10 years”, explained Isabelle Vandrot, Head of Sustainable Development and the Environment at Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
In 2020, the airport will reduce emissions by 83% by transitioning to electric service vehicles, and next year, the airport will hit 86% by making its freight terminal and technical centre gas-free. Solar panels and the decarbonisation of machinery will make up the remainder, allowing the airport to reach its goal by 2030.
 
 

Brutus takes out Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2020

Charles Thompson’s Brutus crew were the winners, by a point, at Act 3 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series on Sunday.

45 teams representing 13 countries competed in the 7th annual event organised by the Yacht Club of Monaco, in conjunction with SLAM and Valentin Zavadnikov, and were treated last weekend to fantastic racing conditions. Five to 12 knot westerlies and 10 to 14 knot easterlies marked the five races, giving the 180 sailors a chance to race in the spot they will return to in October 2021 for the J/70 World Championships.

The victorious crew of Brutus, though only in the amateur division, showed they have what it takes to play in the big leagues. The English Royal Southern Yacht Club team placed well throughout, with 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 3rdand 5th finishes.

Second place went to Russia’s Arttube led by Valeriya Kovalenko, and the bronze went to the Danish team from Upupup, tying with Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G Spottino from the YCM.

Monaco entrants Junda, skippered by Ludovico Fassitelli, came in a respectable 6th, after a disappointing 19th place in one of the races.  

Overall, Brutus has the lead in the Winter Series provisional rankings with 43 points. Junda is in 2nd, followed by 2017 and 2018 winners Arttube.

Next up is the 36th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse from 6th to 9th February in Monaco where one-design boats from six classes will battle it out for the top spot.

 
Photo source: Yacht Club of Monaco
 

Staggering 26th home win for Roca Team

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/01/2020

Fans of AS Monaco basketball got what they paid for on Saturday night with a solid win against Pau-Orthez on their home turf at Gaston Médecin.
AS Monaco Basketball celebrated their 26th straight home win of Jeep Elite action over the weekend with an 89-76 win over tough Élan-Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez.
The game started out less than auspiciously, as is often the case with two evenly matched teams, with only two points made by either side in the first five minutes of play. Then things exploded with Captain Dee Bost putting away two three-pointers and Eric Buckner everywhere. By the 12th minute, Roca Team had nearly double the points of their opponents, but Élan-Béarnais wasn’t going down without a fight.
After a series of spectacular shots, they came back just minutes later to even up the score. The entire first half played out this way, with Monaco taking the lead only to have Pau claw their way back. By the halftime buzzer, Monaco held onto a slim eight point lead, going into the locker rooms with a 44-36 score.
When play resumed, the Roca Team were decidedly on fire. Three-pointers by Yak Outtara and Dee Bost out of the gate set the tone, and aggressive offense kept the momentum going with big shots made by Norris Cole and another three-pointer by Kim Tillie and an end-of-game ringer by Vincent Vermillac.
Coach Obradovic gave his usual subdued credit where it was due, saying, “After a big victory in Russia and a long trip, the guys had the right attitude. It was a good job.”
Team Captain Dee Bost was a bit more effusive in his praise. “The ball was circulating well in our team. At home, the fans give us strength. We are ready for the big trip to Vilnius”, he said after the game.
Roca Team’s next two games are away. The first is on 22nd January against Vilnius in the Euro Cup and the next is on the 25th for a Jeep Elite match against the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans.
 
 
 

#SuperCoralPlay campaign

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/01/2020

The Scientific Centre of Monaco is backing a fun new awareness campaign in the US which is using NFL players and a catchy tune to help protect and preserve coral reefs. 
The MSC Foundation launched the #SuperCoralPlay campaign on Monday 20th January, in partnership between MSC Cruises, the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee (MSBHC), and 54 NFL players and influencers.
The campaign kicked off with an official music video featuring the ambassadors singing about the issues facing coral and the steps individuals and businesses can take to help.
Via a social media campaign, each participant will make a Super Coral Play – a simple action or pledge to help reduce negative impacts on the environment and their personal carbon footprint to help coral and to encourage others to make their own contribution.
Once individuals or businesses have chosen their “play”, participants are encouraged to share it on social media with a video or use the official campaign filter, tagging #SuperCoralPlay and challenging two others.

 
 
Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home to more than 25% of marine species. They serve as a food resource for half a billion people and protect coastal communities from storms and erosion. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scientists predict that 70% to 90% of coral reefs are in danger of dying out within the next two decades (2030-2050).
The MSC Foundation, working in collaboration with a team of scientists and environmental experts, are identifying hardy species of coral, colloquially termed “Super Coral 3”, that have survived recent extreme ocean heat events and other impacts in the waters near the Bahamas. By conducting research and studying and propagating these types of coral species, it is considered possible to restore reefs while enhancing their tolerance to future environmental change. This can provide a life-line for coral reefs and ensure their future survival.
“Over the years, at the newly-established marine protected reserve at Ocean Cay, more than half of the coral has already died,” said Matthew McKinnon, Chair of the Advisory Board of MSC Foundation. “Similarly, the ecological reef treasures of Florida – the coral state of the US – have been decimated, damaging marine life and leaving greater Miami exposed. If we act now, we still have a chance to help the reefs and the marine life and the benefits they offer to communities. We need to contain ocean warming with more done to reduce emissions and we need to experiment and invest in research and the development of Super Coral as well as advanced applied science to help regenerate resilient reefs, which is work MSC Foundation is developing in coordination with key international and local partners at Ocean Cay.”
This special scientific project will see some of the world’s leading experts in marine biology and coral conservation collaborating together, including the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM), Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the Perry Institute for Marine Science, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Scientific Centre of Monaco (CSM), among other partners.
Joining MSC Foundation, MSC Cruises and MSBHC are 54 current and retired NFL players and influencers, coinciding with this year’s LIV (54th) Super Bowl. This includes Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, Jarvis Landry, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, and Mark Sanchez, broadcaster and retired NFL quarterback.
Read also:

Monaco scientist backs programme to boost women in ocean science

 
 

Princess Stephanie and children in high spirits at festival opening

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/01/2020

The 44th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo has kicked off in grand style in the presence of Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie and her children Pauline and Louis Ducruet and his wife Marie.
Organised and chaired by Princess Stephanie, the festival this year is honouring the horse and welcomes the La Grande Cavalerie from the Knie circus, which is celebrating its centenary.

Since its creation by Prince Rainier III in 1974, the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo has been one of the most prestigious world events of the circus arts.
Once again, the artists who perform in the famous “circle of light”, are competing to win the prestigious gold, silver and bronze clowns. These awards recognise their work and their talent, but also a whole lifetime dedicated to the performing arts.

The 44th edition of the festival is taking place at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille until January 26th.
 
© Photo : Charly Gallo, Manu Vitali, Michael Alesi / Communication Department